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Susan Sarandon has opened up about how her support for Palestine has affected her career in Hollywood.
A long-time supporter and advocate for using her platform to speak out in solidarity, Sarandon, 79, outlined how it has had a significant impact on her professional life.
During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where the actress was promoting her latest movie, The Echo Chambers, by Italian director Andrea Pallaoro, the actress revealed that her support for Palestine came at the cost of her career.
Since publicly voicing her support and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Sarandon claims to have been blacklisted from the industry. According to the actress, agencies have continued to urge directors not to hire her, while multiple parties within the film industry continue to avoid her. She claimed that even Pallaoro had been warned not to work with her, a conversation she said she was: “Grateful he didn’t listen to.”
When speaking on the subject further, Sarandon said, “I’ve been recently dropped from films because there are agencies that are still telling people not to hire me… But that’s the nature of the power structure. I think I’m welcomed by people, and certainly internationally.” She went on to claim that there remains an insistence on not hiring pro-Palestinian actors, particularly within major production companies.
Despite the actress losing out on roles, Sarandon says that she sees a disconnect between the industry’s power structure and public opinion. She claims that she feels welcome by the general public, particularly on the global scale, which she credits to a shift in how people understand the circumstances surrounding the conflict.
“I think that the narrative has completely changed in terms of the historical relevance of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America,” she stated. “I’ve found my family, I’ve found my people – and I’m okay.”
The veteran actress has long been revered for her deep involvement in advocating for humanitarian issues worldwide. Having served as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and a Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2023, she joined a pro-Palestinian rally. Marking the beginning of a period of professional controversy as the actress’s longtime agency severed ties with her and she lost multiple mainstream film opportunities.
The subject of Palestine has also remained a prominent point of discussion when referring to the 83rd Venice Film Festival, in light of the event featuring films made by Palestinian directors. The movie, for which Sarandon is amongst the main cast, is set to screen on September 12 and is nominated alongside 21 other films for the festival’s most prestigious prize – The Golden Lion Award
